Open letter by Alderman Cain about ‘rebranding’ T-Creek Greenway Project
Despite a request by Town of Farragut Alderman Alex Cain to have the following letter read into the record during the Thursday, July 17, Farragut Municipal Planning Commission meeting, this did not happen.
I am writing to express my concerns regarding Resolution PC-25-05, “Update of Major Road Plan,” on the agenda for the July 17, 2025 meeting, which I regretfully cannot attend in person.
As discussed in my recent phone conversation with Mr. Mark Shipley, the stated intent of this resolution is to establish design parameters for a designated list of collector and arterial streets within the Town of Farragut. According to Mr. Shipley, this guidance is necessary due to conflicts between our current subdivision street regulations and the rural character of these specific roads. I appreciate the clarification that this resolution is intended to serve solely as a future planning guide.
However, after reviewing the agenda materials thoroughly, I remain concerned that some members of the Commission may perceive this resolution as a mechanism to circumvent current state law prohibiting the use of eminent domain for greenway development. This concern echoes the 2024 rebranding of the “Turkey Creek Greenway Project” to the “Turkey Creek Multi-Modal Road Improvement Project”— a shift that coincided with ongoing litigation initiated by affected residents and after state law had changed.
A project’s name change does not alter its true intent. When we repurpose terms like “greenways” into “multi-modal improvements” or “complete streets,” and then embed them into schematic cross-section diagrams, we risk misleading residents and obscuring the legal boundaries we are sworn to uphold. I witnessed how budget documents labeled the Turkey Creek project as a greenway with a $500,000 right-of-way acquisition line item — until litigation led to a sudden rebranding.
I urge the Planning Commission to operate with full transparency and prioritize the protection of private property rights. Any attempt to quietly embed sweeping changes through vaguely worded resolutions erodes public trust and forces undue hardship on affected property owners.
If Resolution PC-25-05 is genuinely meant to delineate rural road standards separate from subdivision regulations, then that purpose must be explicitly stated within the resolution’s text. If it serves purely as a conceptual guide for future improvements, that too must be clearly defined. Residents interpret cross-section diagrams as indicators of impending property loss.
I was recently contacted by a Herron Road resident alarmed by a proposed design showing a 23-foot extension from the centerline into his front yard. That is simply unacceptable. The constant over engineering/design of projects needs to stop. We need to focus on keeping our projects as streamlined as possible, and within the Town’s right-of-way moving forward.
Should the FMPC choose to adopt this resolution, I respectfully request the inclusion of the following disclaimers:
• A clear statement that the resolution replaces subdivision street requirements only for the roads explicitly mentioned.
• A mandate ensuring resident involvement throughout all stages of future design and development related to these roads.
• An affirmation that elements depicted in the cross sections are not mandatory in final project execution.
• A provision requiring resident approval — through a vote — for any finalized design, modeled after current speed hump implementation protocols.
This resolution, as currently drafted, raises serious concerns about potential evasion of state law. Our oaths as elected public officials require compliance with legal statutes, and any attempt to bypass these responsibilities is unacceptable.
Therefore, I must inform the Commission that Alderman David White and I will not support Resolution PC-25-05 at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen level, unless the aforementioned disclaimers are included and the resolution’s guidance-only status is assured.
Please ensure this message is distributed to all members of the Planning Commission prior to the meeting. Additionally, I respectfully request that Chairman Ron Pinchok or Vice Mayor Scott Meyer read this message into the public record during the meeting.
Sincerely, Alderman Alexander Cain, North Ward Town of Farragut
